Automatically operated feeding device

ABSTRACT

Feed is dispensed automatically by a device which has a feedholding container and which has a supporting surface, below that container, that permits a valve element, adjacent the outlet of that container, to move toward open position whenever the weight of the feed on that surface falls below a lower limit and that causes that valve element to move toward closed position whenever the supply of feed on that surface is replenished. The valve element is enclosed by a tube which is mounted within the feedholding container; and that tube assures free and unimpeded movement of that valve element by keeping the feed from overlying that valve element.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Eugene M. Poirot 1,449,485 Alspach 1 1 9/56 R Golden City,Mo 64748 1,818,419 8/1931 Mi1ler.... 1l9/53.5 [21] Appl. No. 884,868 2,295,964 9/1942 Null 119/81 [22] Filed Dec. 15, 1969 2,701,548 2/1955 Wolfe 119/51.5 [45] Patented Jan.4, 1972 2,726,636 12/1955 Frederiksen l19/72.5 3,376,856 4/1968 Crippen 119/52 [54] AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED FEEDING DEVICE EmfmlmpAld'ich i 15 Claims 4 Drawing Figs Attorneyl(ingsland, Rogers, Ezell, Eilers & Robbins [52] U.S.Cl 119/57,

137/268,119/81 ABSTRACT: Feed is dispensed automatically by a device [51] Int. I Alk /02 which has a feed-holding container and which has a support- Field ofSearch 119/72.5, ing surface, below that container, that permits a valve 31, 51.5, 52,53, 54, 56,57, 55; 137/268, 408, 433 ment, adjacent the outlet of that container, to move toward open position whenever the weight of the feed on that surface [56] References Cited falls below a lower limit and that causes that valve element to UNITED STATES PATENTS move toward closed position whenever the supply of feed on 1,815,679 7/1931 R 1 19/57 that surface is replenished. The valve element is enclosed by a 804,083 11/1905 Bade 1 9/ 1 tube which is mounted within the feed-holding container; and 2,970,606 '2/1961 wim 137/268 that tube assures free and unimpeded movement of that valve 434,723 8/1 90 Richards 11957 X element by keeping the feed from overlying that valve ele- 1,027,881 5/1912 Mills 119 /55 5 /7Z l3; 1 as l Tl Z 2} a 6 J0 Jf a? 0 AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED FEEDING DEVICE This invention relates to improvements in feeding devices. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in devices that can automatically dispense feed or other material.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved device which can automatically dispense feed or other material.

The feeding device provided by the present invention has a feedholding container and a supporting surface below that container; and that surface permits a valve element, adjacent the outlet of that container, to move toward open position whenever the weight of the feed on that surface falls below a lower limit, and causes that valve element to move toward closed position whenever the supply of feed on that surface is replenished. That valve element is enclosed by a tube which is mounted within the feedholding container; and that tube assures free and unimpeded movement of that valve element by keeping the feed from overlying that valve element. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device which has a feedholding container and which has a supporting surface, below that container, that permits a valve element, adjacent the outlet of that container, to move toward open position whenever the weight of the feed on that surface falls below a lower limit and that causes that valve element to move toward closed position whenever the supply of feed on that surface is replenished, and which has a tube, within the container, that encloses said valve element to keep feed from interferring with or impeding movement of said valve element.

The valve element of the feeding device provided by the present invention responds to the weight of the feed, on the supporting surface below the feedholding container, to move into position to close the outlet of that container; and it moves away from that outlet when the supply of feed on that surface is depleted. The amount of feed, that must be held by the supporting surface to cause the valve element to move into position to close the outlet of the container, is controlled by a spring which extends upwardly from the valve element. By increasing the initial force applied by that spring, the amount of feed which must be held by the supporting surface before the valve element moves toward closed position can be increased. Conversely, by reducing the initial force applied by that spring, the amount of feed which must be held by the supporting surface before the valve element moves toward closed position can be decreased. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a feeding device which a spring which can have the initial force that it applies to the valve element of that device adjusted to adjust the amount of feed which must be held by the supporting surface of that device to cause that valve element to move toward closed position.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. I is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of feeding device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a brokenaway plan view, on a larger scale, of the feeding device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on the approximate scale of FIG. 2, through the feeding device of FIG. I, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on the approximate scale of FIG. 2, of a valve element which has an indicating element mounted a short distance below it.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral denotes a container which is generally cylindrical in form but which has a generally conical bottom. An outlet opening 22 is provided adjacent the lowermost portion of the generally conical bottom of the container 20. A cylindrical clamp 24 encircles the cylindrical portion of the container 20; and a nut 26 and a bolt 28 can be tightened to cause that cylindrical clamp to firmly grip that container. The numeral 30 denotes four elongated legs which are fixedly secured to the circular clamp 24, and which extend downwardly to the ground or other surface on which the device is supported. The legs 30 diverge outwardly and downwardly'from the cylindrical clamp 24; and they are sturdy enough to firmly support that clamp and the container 20.

The numeral 34 denotes a cylindrical tube of relatively small diameter which is mounted at the geometric center of the container 20; and three upper spacers 36 and three lower spacers 38 extend inwardly from the inner surface of that container to the outer surface of that tube. The spacers 36 and 38 can be secured to the inner surface of the container 20 and to the outer surface of the tube 34 by welds or the like. Those spacers fixedly hold the lower end of the tube 34 a short distance above the inner surface of the generally conical bottom of the container 20, as shown particularly by FIG. 3. As a result, an annular space is provided between the bottom edge of the tube 34 and the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the generally conical bottom of the container 20 through which feed or other material can readily flow.

The numeral 42 denotes a valve element which is shown in the shape of a ball; and that valve element can be a rubber ball. That valve element is dimensioned to move freely within the tube 34 but to have a diameter larger than that of the outlet opening 22 in the generally conical bottom of the container 20. Because the diameter of that valve element is smaller than that of the tube 34, that valve element can move freely up and down within that tube. Because the diameter .of the valve element 42 is larger than that of the outlet opening 22, that valve element can block the flow of feed or other material through that outlet opening when it is moved close to that outlet opening. An elongated rod 44 has the upper end thereof extending through, but fixed relative to, the valve element 42; as shown particularly by FIG. 3. The lower end of the rod 44 is threaded; and it has a nut 46 threaded thereon. Washers 48 and 50 underlie the nut 46 but overlie the openingdefining central portion of a flexible diaphragm 52, which is circular in plan view. Washers 54 and 56 underlie the openingdefining central portion of the flexible diaphragm 52; and a nut 58 underlies the washer 56. The nuts 46 and 58 coact with the washers 48, 50, 54 and 56 to fixedly secure the openingdefining central portion of the flexible diaphragm 52 to the rod 44.

A ring 60 is secured to each of the legs 30, as by welds, screws or bolts. That ring is spaced above the level of the bottoms of the legs 30; but it is set close enough to the bottoms of those legs to enable an animal to move its head into the space defined by that ring, by the generally conical bottom of the container 20, and by any two of those legs. The periphery of the flexible diaphragm 52 is secured to the ring 60 by a flexible element 62 which passes through grommetequipped openings 64 adjacent that periphery and which is laced around that ring.

The numeral 66 denotes a helical extension spring which has the lower end thereof hooked through an opening in the upper end of the rod 44, and which has the upper end thereof hooked through the bottom link of a chain 68. That chain extends upwardly through the tube 34, and it has one of the links thereof lodged within a slot 72 in the upper edge of that tube. A loop 70 is provided at the free end of the chain 68; and that loop facilitates the gripping and handling of that free end.

The flexible diaphragm 52 can be made of cloth, rubber, plastic, or other suitable material; and one particularly suitable material is nylon. The weight of that flexible diaphragm will tend to cause it to assume the convexoconcave configuration shown in FIG. 3; and the weight of the rod 44, the weights of the washers 48, S0, 54 and 56, the weights of the nuts 46 and 58, and the weight of the valve element 42 also will tend to cause that diaphragm to assume that convexoconcave configuration. The spring 66, on the other hand, will tend to pull the rod 44 upwardly, and will thereby tend to cause the flexible diaphragm 52 to move upwardly to assume a generally plane configuration. The extent to which the spring 66 is initially tensioned, and thus the initial position and configuration of the flexible diaphragm 52, is readily controlled by setting the appropriate link of the chain 68 in the slot 72 in the wall of the tube 34. As long as the elastic limit of the spring 66 is not exceeded, the greater the initial elongation of the spring the greater the amount of feed that must come to rest upon the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm 52 to cause that flexible diaphragm to assume the convexo concave configuration shown in FIG. 3. The lesser the initial elongation of that spring the smaller amount of feed that must come to rest upon the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm 52 to cause that flexible diaphragm to assume the convexoconcave configuration shown in FIG. 3.

The washers 50 and 54 will preferably be made from neoprene, rubber, leather, elastomeric plastic, or the like so they are flexible. Where washers of that type are used, the flexing of the central portion of the flexible diaphragm 52 will not occur along a precisely fixed circular line. Instead, the flexing of that central portion of that flexible diaphragm will occur in an annular zone which has an outer diameter slightly larger than those of the washers 50 and 54 and which has an inner diameter slightly smaller than those of those washers. As a result, where the washers 50 and 54 are made from neoprene, rubber, leather, elastomeric plastic, or the like, the flexible diaphragm 52 will have a relatively long life.

The feed or other material which is disposed within the container 20 will be of a type which responds to gravity to flow readily. Examples of feeds which flow readily in their natural state are kernels of corn, rye, and wheat. Examples of prepared feeds that respond to gravity to flow readily are spherical feed pellets, cylindrical feed pellets, and granular feeds. These various feeds will respond to gravity to tend to move downwardly toward the lowennost portion of the generally conical bottom of the container 20, and to pass to and through the outlet opening 22.

To use the feeding device of the present invention, the operator will provide a desired initial extension of the helical extension spring 66, and will then slip the appropriate link of the chain 68 into the slot 72 in the upper edge of the tube 34. That operator will then pour the desired feed or other material into the space between the inner surface of the container 20 and the outer surface of the tube 34; and that feed or other material will gravitate downwardly toward the outlet opening 22 of the container 20. The spring 66 will initially hold the lower surface of the valve element 42 far enough above the inner surface of the generally conical bottom of the container 20 to permit the feed or other material to flow freely to and through the outlet opening 22. That feed or other material will fall downwardly as it passes through the outlet opening 22, and it will be intercepted and held by the flexible diaphragm 52. The weight of that feed or other material will coact with the weights of the flexible diaphragm 52, of the washers 48, 50, 54 and 56, of the nuts 46 and 58, and of the rod 44 and valve element 42 to cause the spring 66 to yield, and thereby permit the valve element 42 to move downwardly until it is close enough to the inner surface of the generally conical bottom of the container 20 to prevent any further flow of feed or other material to and through the outlet opening 22. The valve element 42 need not directly engage the inner surface of the generally conical bottom of the container 22 to prevent further flow of feed or other material through that outlet opening; instead, that valve element need only move close enough to that inner surface to block any further movement of feed or other material between itself and that inner surface.

Once the amount of feed or other material, that has passed downwardly through the outlet opening 22 and has come to rest upon the flexible diaphragm 52, is great enough to cause the spring 66 to elongate sufficiently to permit the valve element 42 to block any further flow of feed or other material through the outlet opening 22, the feeding device will dispense no further feed or other material until some of that feed or other material has been removed. The legs 30 are spaced far enough apart to enable animals to move their heads between those legs, and hence those animals will be able to eat the feed or other material which is held by the flexible diaphragm 52. Portions of that flexible diaphragm may be bowed downwardly or sidewardly as the animals eat the feed or other material thereon; but that flexible diaphragm will not be flexed upwardly until after enough of that feed or other material has been removed to enable the restorative forces within the spring 66 to move the center of that flexible diaphragm upwardly. As that spring moves that center upwardly, that spring will move the valve element 42 upwardly; and, thereupon, further feed or other material will flow between the lower end of the tube 34 and the inner surface of the generally conical bottom of the container 20 and pass downwardly through the outlet opening 22. That feed or other material will be intercepted and held by the flexible diaphragm 52. This means that as the animals eat the feed or other material held by the flexible diaphragm 52, the spring 66 will raise the valve element 42 to permit further feed or other material to move downwardly through the outlet opening 22 and be intercepted and held by that flexible diaphragm. As that feed or other material accumulates on that flexible diaphragm, the spring 66 will yield and permit the valve elements 42 to move close enough to the inner surface of the generally conical bottom of the container 20 to prevent further flow of feed or other material through that outlet opening. It should thus be apparent that the feeding device provided by the present invention will automaticallysupply feed or other material as that feed or other material is required; and that it will block the dispensing of feed or other material whenever a predetermined amount of feed or other material is held by the flexible diaphragm 52.

The tube 34 is important because it keeps the feed or material from overlying the valve element 42, and thus keeps that feed or other material from interfering with the requisite free and unimpeded movement of that valve element. As a result, the spring 66 can closely control the amount of feed or other material which is required to move the rod 44 and the valve element 42 downwardly to cut off the further discharge of feed or other material. All of this means that the operator of the feeding device provided by the present invention can use the chain 68 and the spring 66 to fix a predetermined weight of feed or other material that must come to rest upon the flexible diaphragm 52 to cause the valve element 42 to effectively close the outlet opening 22; and that thereafter that spring and that valve element will efiectively close that outlet as soon as that weight of feed or other material accumulates on that flexible diaphragm.

A cover, not shown, will preferably be provided for the tube 34 to keep feed or other material from entering that tube when the feed or other material is poured into the space between the outer surface of that tube and the inner surface of the container 20. Also, a cover will preferably be provided for the upper end of the container 20.

In some instances, as in the feeding of fish, it will be desirable to place the lower portion of the feeding device in water. Where that is done, the flexible diaphragm 52 will be located below the surface of the water but all portions of the container 20 will be located above the surface of the water. Preferably, the legs 30 will be secured to pontoons or a float so changes in the level of the water surrounding the feeding device will not change the distance by which the outlet opening 22 of the containers 20 is spaced above the level of that water; and, preferably, that distance will be about 6 inches. Where the container 20 is to be suspended from a pole or from a dock, it will be desirable to use a block and a rope to suspend that container from that pole or dock; because that block and rope could be adjusted to reset the distance between the outlet opening 22 and the surface of the water as the water level changed from time to time. If the legs 30 are lengthened to enable them to rest on the bottom of a pond or pool to hold the container 20 above the surface of the water, those legs should be long enough to keep waves in the pond or pool from splashing water up through the outlet opening-irrespective of the level of the water in that pond or pool.

Where the feeding device of the present invention is to be used in water, the spring 66 could be replaced by floats which were attached to the lower portion of the rod 44. Also, where the feeding device of the present invention is to be used in water, the flexible diaphragm 52 could be replaced by a float which was cuplike in configuration and which was large enough to intercept and hold fish food passing downwardly through the outlet opening 22. However, the spring 66 is preferred to floats on the rod 44 or to a cuplike float; because the upwardly directed force applied by that spring will not vary as the level of the water surrounding the feeding device shifts up and down relative to the container 20. Further, the spring 66 is preferred because it enables the feeding device of the present invention to be used in or out of water.

The legs 30 are slender, and so is the rod 44. This is desirable; because it gives the feeding device an open appearance, and thus encourages animals, fish or birds to use it. Also, this is desirable because it enables young animals to see other animals eating from that feeding device and to emulate them.

Referring to FIG. 4, the container 20, the outlet opening 22, the tube 34, the valve element 42, and the rod 44 can be identical to the similarly numbered components in FIGS. 1-3. However, the rod 44 in FIG. 4 has a washer 80, of neoprene, rubber, elastomeric plastic, or the like, mounted on it about one and one half inches below the valve element 42. That washer is dimensioned to pass freely through the outlet opening 22; and it will pass upwardly through that outlet opening and into the container 20 whenever the supply of feed or other material in that container and on the flexible diaphragm 52 is completely exhausted. That washer will preferably be brightly colored so it can be readily seen when the feeding device is set in water and that washer is disposed below the level of the outlet opening 22 as will be the case as long as the container 20 is supplying feed or other material to the flexible diaphragm 52. Whenever the operator of the feeding device of the present invention cannot see the washer 80 below the outlet opening 22, he will know that the supply of feed or other material in the container 20 has become exhausted and must be replenished. The washer 80 thus serves as an indicator which can readily be seen from a distance and which will indicate that the supply of feed or other material in the container 20 must be replenished.

If desired, the rod 44 could be replaced by a length of nylon or other cord or rope. Also, if desired, the ring 60 could be eliminated if the legs were made sturdy enough to resist lateral flexing thereof; and, in that event, four spaced portions of the periphery of the flexible diaphragm 52 would be secured directly to the legs 30.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, and means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening.

2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said discharge opening is adjacent to the bottom of said container and wherein said tube is generally vertically directed.

3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tube is spaced from said discharge opening to define an annular space through which material can flow to said discharge opening.

4. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, the diameter of said tube being larger than the diameter of said discharge opening, and the diameter of said valve element being larger than the diameter of said discharge opening.

5. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said container having a generally conical bottom, said discharge opening being located at the lowermost portion of said generally conical bottom, and said end of said tube extending down into, but stopping short of, said generally conical bottom to define an annular space through which said material can flow to said discharge opening.

6. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve element is a ball having a diameter which is larger than the diameter of said discharge opening.

'7. A dispensing devices as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mechanical connection is a connector that extends through said valve element, that extends downwardly to said member, and that extends through said member..

8. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member is a flexible diaphragm that underlies and that extends radially outwardly beyond said discharge opening.

9. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container is supported by a plurality of legs that are spaced apart to give said feeding device an open" appearance.

10. A dispensing device for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent butspaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said container being supported by a plurality of legs, and said member being a flexible diaphragm which has the periphery thereof secured to said legs and which has the central portion thereof secured to said mechanical connection.

11. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, and means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening said biasing means being adjustable to adjust said predetermined value of material which must be held by said member to cause said valve element to move toward said discharge opening.

12. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said biasing means being a spring, and the initial length of said spring, and thus the force applied by said spring, being adjustable.

13. A dispensing device for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from the said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, and means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said biasing means being enclosed by said tube and thus being isolated from said material in said container.

14. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said biasing means is a helical extension spring, wherein said biasing means is enclosed by said tube and thus is isolated from said material in said container, wherein said member is a flexible diaphragm which is connected to said biasing means by said mechanical connection, and wherein said biasing means can be connected to said tube to fix the initial forces applied by said biasing means.

15. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, and an indicator disposed below the level of said valve element, said indicator being disposed below said discharge opening whenever the amount of materi a] on said member exceeds said predetennined value, said indicator moving up through said discharge opening and into said container whenever the supply of material in said container and on said member is exhausted. 

1. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, and means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening.
 2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said discharge opening is adjacent to the bottom of said container and wherein said tube is generally vertically directed.
 3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tube is spaced from said discharge opening to define an annular space through which material can flow to said discharge opening.
 4. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, the diameter of said tube being larger than the diameter of said discharge opening, and the diameter of said valve element being larger than the diameter of said discharge opening.
 5. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said container having a generally conical bottom, said discharge opening being located at the lowermost portion of said generally conical bottom, and said end of said tube extending down into, but stopping short of, said generally conical bottom to define an annular space through which said material can flow to said discharge opening.
 6. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve element is a ball having a diameter which is larger than the diameter of said discharge opening.
 7. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mechanical connection is a connector that extends through said valve element, that extends downwardly to said member, and that extends through said member.
 8. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member is a flexible diaphragm that underlies and that extends radially outwardly beyond said discharge opening.
 9. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container is supported by a plurality of legs that are spaced apart to give said feeding device an ''''open'''' appearance.
 10. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said container being supported by a plurality of legs, and said member being a flexible diaphragm which has the periphery thereof secured to said legs and which has the central portion thereof secured to said mechanical connection.
 11. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, and means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening said biasing means being adjustable to adjust said predetermined value of material which must be held by said member to cause said valve element to move toward said discharge opening.
 12. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed wiThin said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said biasing means being a spring, and the initial length of said spring, and thus the force applied by said spring, being adjustable.
 13. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, and means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said biasing means being enclosed by said tube and thus being isolated from said material in said container.
 14. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said biasing means is a helical extension spring, wherein said biasing means is enclosed by said tube and thus is isolated from said material in said container, wherein said member is a flexible diaphragm which is connected to said biasing means by said mechanical connection, and wherein said biasing means can be connected to said tube to fix the initial forces applied by said biasing means.
 15. A dispensing device, for material that is in solid form but that can respond to gravity to flow, which comprises a container that has a small discharge opening therein, a tube which is fixedly mounted within said container and which has an end thereof adjacent but spaced from said discharge opening to permit said material to flow beneath said end of said tube and reach said discharge opening, a valve element which is disposed within said container and within said tube and which is movable relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, said valve element being movable toward said discharge opening to block the passage of said material through said discharge opening and being movable away from said discharge opening to permit the flow of said material through said discharge opening, a member disposed below said discharge opening to receive and hold said material flowing through said discharge opening, a mechanical connection between said valve element and said member which enables said member to move said valve element toward said discharge opening whenever the amount of said material on said member exceeds a predetermined value, means biasing said valve element away from said discharge opening, said tube tending to keep said material in said container from filling said tube and surrounding and embedding said valve element, and thereby enabling said biasing means to freely move said valve element relative to said tube and relative to said discharge opening, and an indicator disposed below the level of said valve element, said indicator being disposed below said discharge opening whenever the amount of material on said member exceeds said predetermined value, said indicator moving up through said discharge opening and into said container whenever the supply of material in said container and on said member is exhausted. 